How To Get A Job At Lush!
[ 7 April 2008 ]
“How do I get a job at Lush Cosmetics?”
If you knew how many times I’ve been asked this question, you would laugh! Seriously, there would be major giggling. You might even guffaw. So I figured it was time to answer it en masse rather than dishing out little tips whenever I get an email like this!
I worked at Lush a few years ago, & it was the only “normal” job I ever had that I actually enjoyed. I would wake up in the morning & genuinely look forward to the work day. That is high praise! I was there for about two years, I think, & graduated from sales assistant to shop manager in about three months. I left because I had finally had my fill of retail.
So, how can you get a job there? I’m not doing their hiring, so I can’t tell you exactly, but these are my thoughts on the matter.
First of all, in my experience the people who do best at Lush (& the people who get hired & promoted fastest) are the people with oodles of self-confidence (or at least the ability to convincingly fake it)! If you’re working in retail & you don’t really enjoy relating to people, you are going to feel pretty sour about it. You’ve probably noticed that if you go into a Lush store, everyone will say hello to you or try to make conversation. You might have seen the sales assistants singing along to the stereo, or the shop manager giving a hand massage to demonstrate a product. If you start working at Lush, you’ll be one of those people! You have to be okay with talking to everyone who comes in, rubbing products into their skin & holding thousands of objects up for customers to sniff.
Lush is really not a place for shrinking violets, the nervous or anyone who feels socially inadequate or anxious. It just isn’t. It won’t work. You’ll be miserable & you won’t sell anything & it will cause a huge chain of problems. If you are more introverted than extroverted & you still want to work for Lush, you might have better luck seeking employment on the production or administrative side of things.
The best thing you can do, as a potential sales assistant, is whip up a fabulous-looking resume (use great paper, colours & your artistic flair) & then walk into your closest Lush shop with it. Don’t just heave it across the counter & run out again. Odds are good that the person on the other side of the counter is the person who has the power to hire you, so appeal to them! Wait until they’re not flat out with a customer, & then talk to them. Tell them how much you looove the products. Say you’d be really keen to work there, & explain your circumstances (full-time, part-time, student?). Allude to the fact that you are a fantastic potential workmate, with a great sense of humour & a mean cupcake recipe. Smile & be confident, be outgoing & enthusiastic about the interaction.
You already know that first impressions count. Here’s an example. When I was at Lush & looking for people to hire, I would personally throw the vast majority CV’s straight in the bin almost as soon as the person’s back was turned — because they’d just skulked in, mumbled something & run out again. I wasn’t going to hire someone like that! What good would they be? So when you go in, turn on the charm. Know that the manager is thinking that if you can’t do it now, how are you going to do it for the customers?
Honestly, I think the best way to do it is befriend the people who work at your local Lush. Drop in every now & then, have a chat, buy something, talk about the new products & ask how their day is going. Gently remind them that you’re still keen to work there. Ask them to let you know if something comes up. The squeaky wheel gets the oil, & all that. If they have someone leave or they need someone extra over Christmas, & you are in the forefront of their mind, you better believe that they’ll give you a call!
If they really have no positions — & it happens, especially in small stores — swing by in September or October, in time to be hired for the Christmas rush. The best Christmas casual employees are very commonly offered part- or full-time positions soon afterwards.
The Lush interviewing process is pretty relaxed. Be yourself, be enthusiastic, demonstrate your product knowledge. (If you don’t know much about the products, pick up a copy of the Lush Times & start learning!) Lush use all natural products & a lot of essential oils, so if you know anything about that kind of thing, don’t be afraid to let your interviewer know it. A bit of prior retail experience is a bonus, too, but it’s certainly not imperative.
If you’re invited to come in & do some trial work — & I don’t even know if they still do this — remember to be confident! Approach as many customers as you can, even if it terrifies you, because if you can’t do that, there is no way they will employ you. Just go over to people & say, “Hi, how are you doing?” Smile & be friendly. One of the classic lines Lushies use is, “Have you ever been into a Lush shop before?”, because often people will say, “Um, err, no!” which gives you free reign to jump on them & pull them from area to area & demonstrate about a billion products. Anyway, if you whip that line out, you’re practically a shoo-in. Instant employment, wink wink!
While Lush is truly an awesome place to work, the majority of jobs they have on offer are retail, & so they pay retail wages. This can be off-putting for some people, especially those of us accustomed to a high standard of living! I eventually got to a point where I wanted to earn more money & not have to stand on my feet all day to do it, which is why I left. However, Lush do have bonus schemes, incentives, training & an amazing discount. It used to be 50% when I was there, which was fantastic. (The low cost of products also encourages you to use them so you can sell better.)
They’re a very ethical company — all their products are vegetarian, a lot of them are vegan & they are committed to fair trade practises as well as giving to charity. They get named as one of the top places to work all the time, so you’re in good hands.
Lush customers are a pretty unusual lot, & your relationships with them will be similarly odd. In most high street shops, you’re lucky to be on the receiving end of a curt hello. Lush is different. People are encouraged to pick things up & try them out, have a sniff & slap a bit on. This paves the way for some interesting interactions. How do you, for example, discreetly & pleasantly tell a customer that they have glitter or powder on the end of their nose? How do you help a man pick a gift for his wife (who is angry at him)? How do you talk to someone about their spots without making them feel ugly or self-conscious?
You get the drift. It’s an unconventional role in a very unconventional company, with its own unique challenges.
I had some amazing experiences there. There was, for example, the incident on Christmas Eve — the busiest day of the retail year — where my assistant manager came to work drunk. (Oh, I can’t tell you how thrilled I was! Grimace.) There was the incessant flirting with the boys from the record store around the corner. There were choreographed dance routines to Grease performed for customers. Some of us walked around with face masks on, & some of us just slathered ourselves with glittery massage bars before the day started. We succumbed to never-ending cutting & wrapping of soap (which I still miss doing), painfully regular stock-takes & extremely short-notice flights to Australia to meet the big man himself (Mark Constantine) & sample the newest products. I got used to people in the bus stop sniffing me & asking, “Have you been at Lush?” I even developed charming responses to those who asked if working there gave me a headache (I was asked this every day, & surely if it did, I wouldn’t have worked there?!).
The main reasons I loved working at Lush were that they award their staff a lot of responsibility (which is pretty much opposite of every other company, who seem to go out of their way to disempower you), I worked with great people, it was a fairly relaxed environment & I loved their products — which made selling them an absolute joy. Not like work at all.
Good luck!
Extra For Experts:
Lush job options — have a look at current roles in the UK.
Lush couple with a shed load of ideas — the Guardian article about Mark & Mo.
Rinse & Repeat — more info about Lush.
Hyper-love & bunny kisses,
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Gala, have you seen these articles?
news.google.com/news?hl=en
Sherry — That link isn’t taking me anywhere except the front page of Google news. What was it meant to be?
Oh, the water thing. No disrespect to the scientists, but thousands of papers about water consumption are published every year — that one’s just been publicised because it’s an opposite opinion to what we’ve always been told. I guess it’s interesting, but really, I don’t need a scientist to tell me what is or isn’t good for me — I know how much better my body functions when I drink a lot of water!
I get the impression that the water article is talking about the effects of drinking more water than our bodies need. Since most people don’t actually drink as much as their bodies “ask” for, it’s a bit of a moot point for the majority.
I always got the impression the appetite supressant part was about how in many instances when we feel hungry we’re actually thirsty, but our bodies are craving water intake in any form they can get.
Great article Gala – I’d never considered working at Lush before because my previous experience in retail was horiffic. This actually makes me want to apply!
Oh i heart lush and i’ve worked 2 years for them. I love their customer-friendly concept, i learned so much from standing in their shop. It was a very fun experience and i have always enjoyed working for them. Go to a concert afther work and everybody kept sniffing at me heh :) But i needed to leave there because they couldn’t give me more hours, plus i needed something completly new.. I miss them a bit sometimes it was the coolest job i ever had, was very proud always to tell people i worked for them!
I love Lush so much, and I even got an interview with them but as a rather extreme introvert I suppose it was silly to even try.
I’m not sure if it’s the same everywhere, but in my interview I was asked to answer (and illustrate) certain questions on big square of paper.
Then we had to stand up, take a place in the center of the semi-circle of people, and talk about the answers we’d written. Yikes! Though I’m sure most people are fine with things like that. I just wish they’d‘ve hired me to clean the floors and stir the facemasks or something. :D
It certainly looks like a really wonderful place to work.
Me and my Nan went into Lush a few weeks ago, and my Nan bought the Christmas Soaps and Goodies half price!
Anyway, we were at the kerb to cross the road, and then the bag broke and all the soaps and things were rolling on the road!
We were laughing to much :) Even the drivers were laughing! The kind Public helped us pick them up :D
All the people in lush are confident and have brilliant people’s skills. It’s a lovely shop.
Lucy, UK
Vicki — Yup, it’s a strange one. I say, use your brain & do what makes you feel best, because your body will let you know what it wants!
Romy — Ahh, the infamous group interview! I’ve heard of those but never been party to one. I think that sort of thing would intimidate even the most confident person!
i dont think i could work in lush – i cant be in there for too long cause the smell is so overwhelming! i find myself not being able to breath..haha
its a shame.
This is good advice, & a lot of it applies to almost any job – approach directly and with confidence; try to build a rapport with the people who take your CV or interview you; and demonstrate somehow that you want to work for that specific company, not just any another company that does the same thing!
eeee i would so love to work there! i’ve dropped in my CV before but they didn’t have any work, sadly :(
i’ll take your advice though gala, keep going in for a chat, maybe buy something (though it’s hard because the products really do last soooo long!), make friends etc.
they’ve told me that i could get a job if i come back in the summer, so.. fingers crossed!
And let us not forget, the more that you know about the products in advance, the greater your advantage!
I’ve been working in for the past year or so and it is such a wonderful, magical place to work! You’re allowed to buzz around and are encouraged to dress how you like.
I have been a fan of the products for years (my ex works in a different branch and I got my brother the job in my shop before he left and they hired me). If you have a very creative, friendly letter, chances are they will keep hold of it until they have a space, they kept my letter for 3 months until a space was free! I pressed flowers and doodled and stuck pretty stickers on it then sent it in. I am all about the eithics and doing my homework and learning about the products, they’re so good, I want everyone to experience them which is an ideal attitude to have!
When we had Christmas temps the ones that were laid off first were those who didn’t approach customers, but Lush are great wih training so you’re knowledge and confidence in selling will build fast.
This is weird but when I walk past Lush from a distance, like in the shopping centre, the smell makes my eyes water. But when I actually went in the one time that I did many months ago to buy a slab of Reincarnate (still hasn’t run out, but soon it will I’m sure) there was no problem at all! Anyone got any idea why?
I’m normally quite socially anxious, but not when I’m working. Working at Lush sounds like it would be very similar to working at open days for my uni, which is my favourite job in the world, except at Lush I would be trying to sell cosmetics rather than trying to get people to apply for a place at my uni. I am crap at retail interviews though, they always seem to ask some questions that only people who have worked retail before could answer :(
I had an interview in Lush once! I thought it went well but I just never heard back from them… It was a group interview with just me and another girl. The other girl was the sister of one of the people who already worked there…go figure. Maybe I am just bitter! Haha. I love Lush and my friends all said it would be my perfect job, because I know so much about all the products and that. But it just wasn’t for me I guess.
The best thing about working there would definitely be the discount and freebies! Oh yeah!
I’ve been after a job at Lush for ages but the one near me never seems to need any staff. The annoying thing is that the staff there are pretty rubbish! Whenever I’ve asked questions about products I’ve been given looks of utter confusion. Annoys the hell out of me that I could do a better job.
This is excellent info! I’m not planning on leaving my job any time soon, but I’ve definitely passed this on to a Lush-loving friend. And as India said in #10, it’s good advice for anywhere you apply!
Lady Julianne LeFaye- I think you just become immune to the smell. I can’t really explain why but when working there the smell doesn’t bother me at alll, in fact I can’t tell the difference between the Lush Miasma and the air outside (plus it could be a cheese shop or something equally as ponging!). Perhaps its because your nose isn’t so confused once you’re up close and accustomed to it.
I applied for a job at Lush last year, and it makes perfect sense that I didn’t get it- “shrinking violets, the nervous, anyone who feels socially inadequate or anxious” is me to a T! I’ve been a fan of their products for years, but the selling techniques are not something I’d be good at at all.
I don’t appreciate the fact that I can’t walk into Lush without being approached by staff. I’ve been a customer for about five years, I get Lush Times in the post and I know their products very well, so I don’t really need to be shown around; also, being spoken to makes me feel obliged to buy something. I know this is just the way Lush operate and it probably enhances the experience for a lot of customers, but it’s enough to make me avoid the shop altogether. I suppose the only point of this comment is: don’t apply for a job when you don’t understand why people do it in the first place!
I got my old job (not at Lush) because I smiled at the guy I gave my form to, who was the boss. When he told me that he wanted to interview me because I seemed friendly and smiled, I was surprised- surely everyone wanting a job would turn on the charm? But I found exactly the same as you, Gala- the majority of applicants were about as charming as a sulking teenage boy.
I think I might have to get another job in retail after I leave university in order to tide me over until I get something more “what I’ve always dreamed of”. Lush is sounding pretty attractive now!
Lady Julianne Le Fay — Your nose adapts to the smell really quickly. After about 30 seconds of walking into the shop, you can’t sense it any more. I’m not sure why this happens, maybe it’s just sensory overload, but it’s a good thing it happens the way it does, otherwise no one would know what the individual products smelt like! It’s great though, you never need to wear perfume (though I admit, after two years I was pretty desperate to wear some) & your clothing (& consequently, bedroom or apartment) will always smell amazing. My old studio apartment was like a den of debauchery, I always had people over & there was always a cigarette lit, but it NEVER smelled bad. You couldn’t even detect the mildest whiff of cigarette. It was fantastic!
Alice — Yeah, the Lush approach isn’t for everyone! ;D There’s nothing criminal about saying, “I come in here all the time & I’d really just like to have a look around”!
Kate — It’s such a fun place to work. Sometimes I go into Lush shops just to soak up the atmosphere. Even doing what I’m doing, if I could get a part-time job there, like maybe one day a week or something, I’d be pretty happy.
when I was 16 I had the best interview ever at Lush, we had lollies & orange juice sitting on the floor, and i’ll always remember the best interview question ever: What would you do if you won a million dollars?!
awesome!!!
just a little heads up too, for people that don’t consider it, retail in a MAJOR city (i work in times square NYC) isnt just your average shopper, friendly tourist, whatever. you get a LOT of crazies. be prepared to help everyone from a homeless person, to a celebrity. (literally.)
it makes a big difference in how well you can handle the pressure, it’s starting to crack me, for sure. now if i were in podunk middle of nowhere, it woudlnt be nearly as crazy, one would assume.
I wish i had this to hand out to the people that would drop in cvs to me chewing gum and not wearing shoes.
hehehe, I once popped into the Lush store in Soho to show my friends why I loved it so much, and the sales assistants just beamed and carried on as they were! It would’ve been a great time to introduce myself, if only we weren’t in such a hurry!
I bet those help wanted signs won’t be appearing for a while, though – Lush has now got all the help it’ll ever need in terms of applicants, haha!
I’ve never been to Lush (horror!) but my friends talk about it all the time and I’m looking forward to the experience. However, if you replace ‘Lush’ with ‘Victoria’s Secret’ and ‘overpowering smells’ with ‘mostly-naked people asking you to come into the dressing room with them,’ then you pretty much described my last job perfectly! ;)
this is such a crack up i was only saying to my boyfriend the other day i wish i worked at lush hahahah
i know the owner of lush australia… so if anyone could get a job there, you would think it would be me.. but nope hehe
Alice – they always talk to you when you walk in the door so you feel noticed, and therefore less likely to shoplift. Truly.
I used to work at The Body Shop, and I got the job by giving them my CV and a covering letter mentioning my admiration for Anita Roddick, and got called in for the pre-Xmas ‘audition’ (yes, that’s what it’s called). What they were looking for was enthusiasm, really. I had a great time working there for several Xmases in a row. I really miss working in retail at Xmas time – it intensifies the whole seasonal spirit thing so much. But some nights I would walk home and cry because my feet hurt so much :(
LUSH!! Yay :D
This is a great article, and definitely would help anyone looking to get a job at Lush. I work at a newer Lush, and despite all the ups and downs of retail and a newly opened store (just a year…) I love my job! You can totally be yourself at Lush, and we have so much fun!! Dancing around, singing, having awesome conversations with fellow Lushies who just pop in to say hi! If you are looking for a fun part- or full time job, and you are an outgoing, confident person, or willing to become one! Lush is well worth going out of your comfort zone :)
Plus, Lush products ROCK! Getting a job at Lush was like the icing on the cake after using it for so many years, finally having it arrive in my hometown… heaven.
Go. To. Lush. You won’t regret it. And will most likely become obsessed :p
I really wish they would open up a shop here. (I live in Sacramento, California. The closest shop we have is in San Francisco which is two hours away.) They sound like a lovely company and store.
Hey Gala, just wanted to say thanks for this article. It made me want to visit Lush… and I did. The girl who served me was extra helpful. I bought the aqua marina cleanser (it has sea weed in it!), the tea tree water toner (smells delightful!), and the imperialis moisturiser. The girl was so nice she gave me a free cupcake face mask and a small bath bubble bar for free! I used the cleanser/toner/moisturiser last night and my skin has never felt better! Thank you!!!
Ah man, i love Lush so much. I especially adore that you can smell it 10 shops away. Before i lived in the big smoke when i visited (the city) I’d get lost looking for Lush and basically just have to ‘follow my nose’.
Imagine coming home from work smelling like Lush and not like a kitchen! That’s it, I’m handing my resume in tomorrow! I’d say wish me luck but i don’t need it because i’m fantastic! (just practising that unjustified self-confidence :p).
AH! i have a “trial shift” in lush tomorrow (in dublin) so i decided to do my homework tonight, and im glad i did! if i get the job, which i REAAAAALLY hope i do ill put it down to the tips ive picked up from this! im so nervous and excited that im shivering!!!!!!
GLEE! Gala, I just got a job at Lush! Your advice helped me feel really confident at my interview, and I bet that helped a lot.
Also, I don’t know if anyone has mentioned this yet, but the state where your nose becomes “accustomed” to a scent so that you lose awareness of it is known as “anosmia”... or possibly “anosia,” haha it’s been awhile since I took Biological Foundations of Behaviour! Anyways, there you have it.
Have a lovely day!
I love lush, i did apply once. But they did this group interview and you had to stand infront of everyone and i’m not good with presentations infront of large numbers so completely flopped. I think i’d try again at Lush, now i’m a big more confident but i’ll keep away from any group ones!
I want to work at Lush now!
I have a group interview for Lush on Wednesday, and I’m so scared!!!
I know soo much about the products but I’m not THAT confident with new people, so this article has made me feel like I won’t get the job. If I do, I will definitely write another comment saying I got the job :D
x
I have a group interview this week, and not sure what to expect. How did your interview go Hayley? Hope it went well. =0)
I have a group interview tomorrow. I’m both excited and scared. I don’t really know what to expect either.
Better get my confidence pants on! o.O
Lady Liana, my interview went really well! I had a trial there yesterday and I will know whether I got the job by Wednesday. I hope I did. because I sold 6 products in 2 hrs!
x
I got the job! Ahhhh!
Awww congrats!! That’s so sweet.
Awesome! That’s such great news! I hope you enjoy it… I loved working there.
I have an hour trial shift at Lush tomorrow after getting through a group interview, can anyone tell me what to expect? The manager told me its the second part of my interview!
i have a 2hr trial intervieww too. on tuesday, im familiar with the staff there anyway
i went for a group interview on thursday and it went well. i offered to go first to answer questions and i asked a few aswell. the woman said by thursday we’d know. there were 17 of us, and she said she was taking on 24 people so i reckon there was other group interview. i don’t think i’m gonna get a phone call and i’m gutted.
I know this is super late, but I just am really excited to share this, lol
I just got a job at Lush! Today is my first day!
I love you Galaaa
I got a christmas job at Lush :) It’s been my ambition since I was about 14! Not bad, eh?
SO…....... If anyone has further tips for me, please let me know because i’m a xmas temp and start 10.30-5.30 Monday. i can get board easily and i can be so fusy. but hey i did provake 7 customers to spend money on my trial day.
I am thinking about applying at Lush for the summer (I know early..but I have to plan early because of other arrangements). I was wondering how long the period from the time that I submit my resume to the time that I am actually employed takes. I have school in another city and I was planning on applying during spring break for the summer so I was hoping to get employed by the end of spring break so by the time summer comes around, I would have a job?
Also, my other retail job only plays 8.25 an hour. Does Lush pay about the same or less?
Does anyone know the age requirement to work at Lush? is it 16 or 18? or something else?
Well, it’s ok to work for Lush if you’re a student, if you still live with your parents or if you have a boyfriend/girlfriend that makes a very good living but forget about it if you have a mortgage or live alone…
Apart from that the products are wonderful and it’s true that you can have a wonderful time working for them if money is no issue for you.
I have a group/floor interview at Lush in San Francisco on the 16th!! I’m so excited and dying to get this job, but discouraged because with the economy, every group interview I’ve been to, they’ve hired someone older, with kids, or more experience, or whatever. I’m 20 and I need the job just as much as the next person, and I adore LUSH! I’m not nervous about the interview because I actually like putting myself out there and being noticed by the right people, but I have no clue what to wear. The email said black and white, but I don’t know if I should go with pants, skirt, heels, flats (I’m 5’9”)....any suggestions by people who’ve had an interview and/or worked there before? Also, any info about how Lush conducts their interviews and hiring process would be greatly appreciated!
How funny.. I got emailed for the same set of group interviews in SF and was thinking I would go on Tuesday too!